John Weston is a retiree who lives in San Francisco with his dog Pawpaw. His 13-year-old pet is his constant companion and the sole source of his happiness. The canine is always by his side, even when they sleep. And when the senior man was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig’s Disease, he started to worry about what would become of his pooch.
John doted on Pawpaw and wanted him to have a good life when he was gone. So he asked his neighbor, Sherri Franklin, for help.
Sherri is the founder of an animal charity group called Muttville Senior Dog Rescue. Their group focuses on helping elderly canines find new homes.
Dying man’s wish
John’s friends and acquaintances knew that he was worried about his pet. They have seen how much he loved him. They even said that Pawpaw most likely extended his owner’s life and increased its quality. This pushed Sherri to make it her mission to help his neighbor and make his last wish come true.
As John’s condition was worsening, making it difficult for him to care for his pet, Sherri’s organization pulled all the stops and started looking for a new forever home for Pawpaw. They used all their resources to spread the word. Before long, they received a call.
Perfect fit
A businessman from Los Angeles named Bernie Knobbe saw the online plea from Muttsville and decided to meet up with John and Pawpaw. He happened to be in San Francisco that week, so he called the rescue group to make an appointment. Soon, he was playing with the energetic pooch in John’s living room.
The senior man saw his pet’s happiness with Bernie and decided Pawpaw would go to a good home. With tears in his eyes, he told the businessman he was a good guy and that his dog would be lucky to live with him.
Three days after the encounter, John died.
Pawpaw is now in Los Angeles with Bernie and his husband, Tim. He lives happily with three other senior rescue dogs.
Source: Soulmates via Facebook